MustangLuvr

I guess I should have added in my last post that even though it's not all that rare of a car, as long as there isn't much rust, it's still probably worth more than $1,000.00. So I would still buy it. Just didn't want him to think he was getting something he wasn't.

gilamonster

you have to remember that even though hp numbers went down in 1971 the boss 351 was quicker than the boss 302 and boss 429.

MustangLuvr

The Boss 351 was quicker than the boss 302. But no way was it quicker than the boss 429. The Boss 429 was a big block, and also a Hemi. The boss 351 wasn't even close. Unless the 429 was running on like 5 cylinders.

Eric
Boise Id

Also...almost forgot...The Hp numbers didn't go down until 1972.

gilamonster

horsepower ratings went to net ratings in 1972 but they started to DECLINE in 1971. i'm sorry to burst your bubble but the boss 351 was quicker than the boss 429. i think they are rated at 330 hp. what hurt the boss 429 was that it needed to be revved pretty high to get a good launch. a STOCK boss 351 could hit the 1/4 in the high 13's. something the boss 429 could not do.

Syntax

Gil, your so right, but the Boss9 wasn't build for the quarter mile. It was build for Nascar. Off the line, sure a lighter car would have the advantage, but lets say 80-160 that's a different story!
Correct me if I'm wrong here guys but the Boss9 came from the factory with an undersize carb and restrictive headers. But it still had over 400hp. I've been told that with a nice carb and headers 500hp would not be out of the question.
Just my opion but the BOSS 429 is the holy grail of the mustangs!
peace

gilamonster

your right it was built for nascar. but there were 2 versions of the boss 429. the race prepped version which easily had over 500 hp and the street version (which we are discussing) which was rated at something like 375 (underrated) hp. the street boss 429 had a horrible cam (to tune it down), a small carb like you said, and a SMOG PUMP to boot. the race ready version had none of these weaknesses. i am not trying to bash the boss 429, the Lord knows i wish i had one but the fact is the boss 351 was faster in the 1/4 than any boss 302,429, cobra jet or super cobra jet you could throw at it.

69mach1377

And to imagine that this thread began with an imaginary model to begin with...I wish it would just die.

MustangLuvr

Everything I have read about the Boss 429 has said that the Boss was rated at 375 Hp. but was actually more like around 435. Ford used lower hp numbers so that the car would be more affordable to insure. The Boss 351 was rated at 330. Ford may have done the same with the 351, but haven't heard or read anything that says so...but could have. According to http://www.geocities.com/MotorCity/Garage/2745/ets.html, the 1/4 mile time for the 429 was 12.3@112. The 351 was 13.80@104. So, the only way the 429 couldn't pull high 13's was if it crashed. Otherwise it was too busy pulling low 12's.
http://www.theautochannel.com/vehicl...b351cont.frame says the 351 had a 1/4 mile time of 14.1 @ 100.6 mph. Although it gives no specs for the 429.
Also, read any history of the Mustang, and you'll find that the 1971-1973 Mustangs were the longest, widest, and heaviest Mustangs ever produced. In fact, Lee Iacocca, (President of Ford at the time) was quoted as calling that era of Mustangs, "Big Fat Pigs". So, even if the Boss 429 had only the same hp as the 351 (330) then the 429 would still beat it just because of the power to weight ratio alone. As far as the 429 having to be revved out to get good 1/4 ,mile times...so? If you've ever gone to a drag race, everybody has their cars revved to well over 5000 RPM at launch. I've even heard much higher than that. That's they way you drag race. And of course, we all know that in the higher end of the speedo, the 351 could never keep up there.
There is no way the 351 was faster than the 429. The numbers just don't lie. Except for the 375 hp rating of the 429. It was actually around 435.

Eric
Boise Id

gilamonster

yes you are right the 1971-1973 mustangs were longer,wider,and heavier than their predecessors but you forget one simple fact. THE BOSS 429 HAD A 429 in it. a 351 is going to save you a lot of weight compared to an iron block 429. the base CURB WEIGHT on a boss 429 is 3,870 lbs. the boss 351's curb weight is 3,625 lbs. THE BOSS 351 IS THE LIGHTER CAR!!! you also forget that since the boss 429 was built for nascar so its suspension setup was more in tune for the TRACK and not the STRIP. it didn't matter that both cars had underrated hp numbers the boss 351 could put more of its power to the ground. let's assume the boss 429 really had around 450 hp. that would be around 370-380 in net ratings. that would put its power to the wheels at around 330 rwhp. do u think that is enough power to pull a near 3,900 lb car to low 12's? especially with a suspension setup that is not optimized for drag racing??? hell, but if you need proof.
read the 'complete mustang' book by Mike Mueller. i got it for 10 bucks at a book store. he clearly tells you the boss 351 was the quickest fastback ford had produced up to that time.

i don't mean to offend you but you need to give the boss 351 it's credit. it has to be one of the most underrated mustangs of all time. i think a lot of it has to do with the fact that most people do not like it's body style.

69mach1377

Unless someone here offers me a Boss, any Boss, this thread is becoming useless banter...
Can we all just agree that the Bosses were just plain old bad a$$?
I don't even think that any us of here has one...